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Redman’s 64 moves him into Lombard lead

golf18 May 2019 17:10| © Sunshine Tour
By:Michael Green
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Jake Redman © Getty Images

He has only had three top-10 finishes in the last three-and-a-half years, but Jake Redman took a two-stroke lead after the second round on Saturday of the 54-hole Lombard Insurance Classic at the Royal Swazi Spa Country Club.

He carded eight-under-par 64 to move to 15-under-par ahead of the final round, giving him a two-shot edge over Doug McGuigan. There were five players a further shot back on 12-under-par – Keith Horne, Ruan Conradie, Clinton Grobler, Thriston Lawrence and Toto Thimba.

Redman added his 64 to an opening 65, making 11 birdies along the way.

"It's been a very long time since I've been at the top of the leaderboard, so I'm very happy about the way the last two days have gone," he said. "Obviously, I'm very happy with the round, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

"I'm not really thinking of a number tomorrow. I'm going to need to make birdies because the other guys are also going to make birdies on this course. I reckon by the time I tee off, I'm already going to be behind. I've just got to keep pressing and keep doing my thing."

Interspersed between that rush of birdies were three bogeys, only one of which came on a par-five – the 17th.

"Birdies on the par-fives certainly do play a big role in a decent score here, especially if you can pick up the big birdies – eagles," he said. "But I don't think I know of a course where it's not important to pick up shots on the par-fives."

The low scores have been something that he has battled to put together in consecutive rounds, but hard work is paying off.

"I think all-round, my game has been pretty consistent," said Redman. "The short game has been good, the putting has been beautiful, the iron-play has been solid as has been the wedge-play… driving – I've hit one or two sort of iffy drives. That hasn't really been anything in between. It's either been not great or it's been perfect. I maybe just need to get the driver a bit straighter tomorrow and that would obviously help a lot.”

McGuigan also signed for a 64 – one of four players to do so in the second round. His was a bogey-free effort, and a result of going back to a putter he used in his last victory on the Sunshine Tour in September 2017.

Horne was one of the other players to make 64, while Conradie, Grobler and Thimba each signed for a 67. Lawrence, who shared the lead after the first round at nine-under, carded a three-under 69 in the second round.

They are all going to have to chase Redman in the final round on a course that can deliver low scores. He’s looking forward to the challenge.

"I'm excited for tomorrow, but I'm feeling it a bit because I haven't been in this position for a long time," he said. "I'm certainly looking forward to the day and I've just got to keep doing what I'm doing."

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